Cessna 152 accident near Wimauma, Florida, December 31, 2010
On December 31, 2010 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N28BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Wimauma, Florida (Wimauma Air Park airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic/pilot's failure to detect a visible exhaust gas leak and cracked cylinder head immediately prior to the accident flight, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate 100-hour maintenance inspection, which also failed to detect a visible exhaust gas leak.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2010 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wimauma, Florida · Wimauma Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N28BA · registry record · serial 15285381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb from the airstrip, about 300 feet above ground level, the mechanic/pilot heard a loud noise, followed by a partial loss of engine power. He leveled the nose and verified that the throttle lever was in the full forward position; however, he was unable to maintain altitude. During the subsequent forced landing to a field, the airplane struck a fence. According to the pilot, another pilot who flew the airplane previously reported a rough running engine and had to perform an uneventful precautionary landing to an airstrip. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the No. 2 top spark plug and its associated heli-coil had separated from the cylinder. Further examination revealed that the spark plug and cylinder threads were worn and an approximate 2-inch crack originated near the cylinder head threads. Additionally, the area around the top and bottom spark plug holes exhibited evidence of exhaust gas leakage, which would have most likely been visible during the most recent maintenance inspection. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated about 77 hours since its most recent 100-hour inspection, which was completed about 3 months prior to the accident. The No. 2 overhauled cylinder had been operated for 832 hours since it was installed, about 4 years prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 236 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,781 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 2010; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cirrus Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: FD77 Wimauma FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SRQ Sarasota FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from MCF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N28BA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.